YACHTING DURING THE PAST 249 



the ram, which was the measurement from the top of the stem 

 to the top of the sternpost, every other latitude being allowed 

 free and unhampered. Consequently boats favoured excessive 

 beam and absurdly long overhanging sterns and counter- 

 sterns ; so much so, that the helmsman sometimes appeared to 

 be forward of amidships. 



With the growing popularity of racing another evil 

 became apparent to yachtsmen. There was no means of con- 

 trolling the behaviour of watermen, who were necessary to 

 the full enjoyment of the sport. So flagrant were the offences 

 of the more turbulent of this body of men that matters were 

 brought to a crisis after the water frolic on Burgh Flats in 

 1858, when the crews of two racing yachts boarded one 

 another, lashed their craft together and fought out their 

 differences to the bitter end. 



After this certain gentlemen well-known in Broadland 

 called together a meeting at .the Maid's Head Hotel, Norwich, 

 at which the following (inter alia) were present : Mr R. N. 

 Burroughs, Mr B. Branford, Mr F. Brown, Mr F. Dowson, 

 Mr W. Jecks, Mr W. Everitt, Mr W. Mann, Mr H. Morgan, 

 Mr J. B. Morgan, Mr W. S. Everitt, Mr W. Millard, Dr R. K. 

 Morton, Mr T. M. Read and Colonel Wilson. 



At this meeting, held on the 9th April 1859, existing 

 grievances were discussed, and a club was formed which hoped 

 to exercise some sort of control at future regattas ; the 

 proposed name was subject-matter for much discussion, but 

 eventually the present title without its prefix was agreed 

 upon, and by way of compliment to the Suffolk members, who 

 were in the minority, Colonel Wilson was elected the first 

 Commodore of the club, Mr C. W. Millard was appointed 

 Secretary, and Mr H. Morgan, Treasurer. Rules were discussed 

 and framed, flags chosen, and a sum of thirty pounds subscribed 

 in the room to purchase a club challenge cup in order that 

 history might not repeat itself. 



The Committee consisted of the following yachtsmen : Mr 

 W. Jecks (Norwich), Mr H. P. Green (Norwich), Mr A. J. N. 

 Ohamberlin (Wroxham), Mr W. Henry Scott (Aylsham), Mr 



